Michael Cohen returned to the witness stand for further cross-examination in Donald Trump's hush money trial. Last week, Trump's lawyers focused on Cohen's conflicting accounts of a crucial phone call from 2016. Cohen had previously testified that he discussed the Stormy Daniels matter with Trump. However, text messages revealed by Trump's attorney just before the call showed Cohen was concerned about a prank caller. During the cross-examination, Cohen confirmed his earlier testimony, but Trump's lawyer accused him of lying.
Defense lawyers aimed to complete their tough cross-examination of Cohen on Monday morning. Prosecutors planned to question Cohen again to reinforce his version of events and counter any doubts raised by Trump's team. The prosecution needs to emphasize corroborated details in Cohen's testimony to strengthen their case.
Regarding Trump's potential testimony, legal experts advise against it, as his previous statements are already known. Testifying could expose him to a challenging cross-examination. The case hinges on proving a felony was committed, including potential falsification of records and defrauding New York voters.
Cohen's testimony implicated additional criminal acts and suggested Trump was aware of his actions. The prosecution faces challenges in proving the underlying crime and fraudulent business record entries. The defense is expected to scrutinize each element of the case, and a motion to dismiss certain elements may be filed.
